I would love to rail about decisions made 20 years ago or 20 days ago, but while political pontifications may get our blood boiling, they don’t help the hurting; they don’t stop the killings; and they don’t comfort the frightened. We have direct access to the One Who does! This particular issue seems like a really hard one and Jesus Himself said, “really hard ones need prayer and fasting!” (Yes, that’s a very loose paraphrase). I’m calling on all of Word of Grace to Pray (and Fast) as God enables for the plight of Afghanistan.
I always hesitate to call a very specific fast, because we aren’t supposed to know when one another is fasting. Ironically the same passage from which I draw that conclusion also teaches that we will be fasting! 🙂
“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-18
Keep in mind that while food is the primary Biblical picture of fasting, sometimes it was types of food and certainly if could be from other “pleasures” – in 2021; screens come to mind!
Pastor Scott
Grace Notes 